PHOENIX — Phoenix loves hometown guy Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time. However, 12News is shining the spotlight on another swimmer who calls the Valley home, gold medal Olympian Darian Townsend.
The South African swimmer is now a coach at Phoenix Swim Club in Paradise Valley. He coaches more than 300 swimmers.
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The proud University of Arizona grad works alongside athletes looking to break his records just as he did in past Olympic games.
Town has a gold medal from the 2004 Athens games in the 4x100 freestyle relay.
"There's very few medals in the world, if you think about all the athletes who compete, so this is very special to me," said Townsend.
His team broke the world record during the competition in Athens.
"It was our team's first race, world record, gold medal, couldn't ask for anything better," Townsend said.
In the 2009 Berlin World Cup, Townsend beat the world record in the 200 meter that had been set by Team USA's Ryan Lochte.
The athlete to break the world record set by Team USA's Ryan Lochte in the 200 meters at the World Cup in Berlin in 2009.
"Knowing that your team has gone the fastest in history, that's quite something and I've always been obsessed with records.
Finishing second behind, Townsen was American swimmer, Michael Phelps.
"We were wanting to win the race and whoever was in front of us, we wanted to beat, and he just happen to be one of the guys in front of us. Michael is the most amazing athlete, he's the greatest swimmer we've seen in my lifetime and to beat him is huge."
Townsend is proud of his work in the pool but nothing makes him prouder than his current priority, the athletes he coaches.
"When I'm on the deck, coaching doesn't really feel like a job to me," said Townsend.
Some of his students praised his style and approach saying he always encourages them to do their best and stay dedicated.
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